Rail-joint.



No. 717,985. PATENTED JAN. 6, 190a.

. 0. GOMMON.

RAIL JOINT.

APPLICATION FILED MAY'BI, 1902.

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PATENTED JAN. @1903.

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RAIL JOINT;

APPLIUATION FILED MAY 21, 1902.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OEFIcE.

CHARLES GOMMON, OF SEBEWAING, MICHIGAN.

RAIL-JOINT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 717,985, dated January 6, 1903.

Application filed May 21, 1902. berial No. 108,392. (No model.)

:0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES GoMMoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sebewaing, in the county of Huron and State of Michigan, have invented new and useful Improvements in Rail-Joints, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to rail-joints; and the primary object thereof is to provide means for strengthening the joint at the meeting ends of two opposing rails and securely fastening them together, but allow a sufficient play to provide for the expansion and contraction due to the change in temperature.

Another object is to so effectually join the rails that the liability of their creeping will be materially lessened.

Other objects, as well as the novel details of construction, will be specifically described hereinafter, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a top plan view of a rail-joint constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal horizontal section taken through the joint after the parts have been assembled. Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section on the line 4 4. of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a similar view on. the line 5 5 of Fig. 3. Fig.6 is a detail perspective view of one of the railchairs. Fig. 7 is a plan view of one of the fish-plates. Fig. 8 is a similar view of the opposite fish-plate. Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the meeting ends of two rails. Fig. 10 is a plan view of one of the washer-plates.

The reference-numerals 1 and 2 designate two rails, the meeting ends of which are cut away for a portion of their lengths, so as to remove the tread or leave only the flangeweb. Two fish-plates 3 and 4 are secured to the respective sides of the rails and are provided with tread portions 5 and 6, respectively, which fit in the space formed by thev cut-out portion of the rails. The tread portion 5 is provided with a longitudinal groove 7, in which fits a wedge-shaped tongue 8 of the opposite fish-plate, so as to lock the tread portions together when the fish-plates are fastened to the rails. It will be noticed that the sides of the tongue are beveled or slightly tapered and fit in a correspondingly-shaped groove 7. The purpose of this is to have the which a bolt fits and passes through the rail and a round opening in the fish-plate, said bolts securing the parts together and which yet permit a slight play of the rails or fishplates, so as to provide for expansion and contraction.

It will be noticed that the bolts 10 fit through the elongated opening in one fish-plate and the round opening in the other fish-plate alternately. The purpose of this is to prevent both fish-plates from sliding together. On the other side of the joint thus made and resting against the outer surfaces of the fishplates are washer-plates 11 and 12, which also act as supports for a spacing member of a bowed-shaped brace to be referred to hereinafter.

At suitable distances from the meeting points of the-rails and on either side thereof are chairs 13 and 14, which are provided with inverted-T-shaped slots, in which the flange and web of the rail are adapted to be seated. On either side of the slots are vertical flanges 15 and 16 of the chair, which are provided with T-shaped slots 17 and 18, arranged at right angles to the slot above referred to, and the horizontal portions of these latterdesignated slots are provided with countersunk seats to receive the angular head of a suitable bolt 19, wherebysaid bolt will be prevented from turning, The bolt projects outwardly and is secured to. a headed end 20 of the bowed-shaped bracing member 21, which runs longitudinally with and approximately parallel with the rails. This head is provided with a shoulder or ofiset 22, which abuts against a similar offset or shoulder 22 on the seat of the chair, the end of the bowedshaped brace being rounded, so as to fit in an approximately semicircular seat adjacent the shoulder, so that the brace is pivoted to the chairs through the medium of the bolt 19, which passes therethrough and is secured by a suitable nut. Intermediate the ends of the brace is substantially a U-shaped spacing member 23, which is carried thereby and has its free ends bearing against the washer-plate, hereinbefore described, so as to space the braces apart from the rails. A portion of each brace-bar intermediate its ends extends a slight distance below the flange of the rail and is provided with slots for the reception of the ends of a key-plate 24, which is adapt:- ed to lie immediately under the flange of the rail and assist in connecting the brace-bars together.

' It will be seen that the joint is securely made and that a firm fastening is provided; but should any undue strain occur at the juncture of the joints the same will be materially relieved by the pivoted longitudinal brace-bars, which will permit only a sufficient movement of the ends of the rails to take up the motion caused by the expansion and contraction or by any tendency of the rails to creep or by an excessive weight.

It will be apparent that a device constructed in accordance with my invention will provide an effective and durable joint, obviating the necessity of multiplying the ties at the joint or intermediate the ends thereof, thereby resulting in the saving of material. In fact, it is contemplated that the chairs will rest upon cross-ties, and the braces and tieplate will be sufficient to support the end rails without any other assistance. By providing a device of this character the number of ties intermediate the ends may be red uced.

While I have specifically described what to me at this time appears to be the very best means of accomplishing the desired result, I do not desire to be limited as to exact details of construction shown, but reserve the right to make such slight changes and alterations as may suggest themselves from time to time without departing from the spirit of this invention.

Having thus fully described myinvention, what I claim is- 1. The combination with the meeting ends side walls of the rail-chairs and provided with angular seats for the reception of angularheaded bolts and longitudinally arranged brace-bars connected to the bolts resting on the chairs.

2. In a rail-joint the combination with the meeting ends of rails, fish-plates and railchairs, slotted walls in the chairs and provided with angular seats for the reception of headed bolts, and pivoted brace-bars connected to the bolts for the purpose described.

3. In a rail-joint, the combination with rails, of chairs in which the rails are seated, and side brace-bars pivotally connected to the chairs.

4. In a rail joint the combination with rails, fish-plates secured thereto at their meeting ends, slotted rail-chai rs in which the rails are seated, and pivotally-secured braces arranged longitudinally of the rails connected to the chairs.

5. In a rail-joint, the combination with rails, fish-plates secured thereto at their m eeting ends, slotted rail-chairs in which the rails or fish-plates are seated, pivotally-secured braces arranged longitudinally of the rails connected to the chairs, and approximately U-shaped spacing members interposed between the brace-rods and the fish-plates.

6. In a rail joint, the combination with rails with fish-plates and rail-chairs, pivoted side brace-rods connected to the chairs and provided with a shoulder or oifset near its end, a coinciding shoulder or offset on each chair to limit the-movement of the brace, each chair being provided with a seat in which the end of the brace is adapted to rest.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES GOMMON.

Witnesses:

JOSHUA BRAUN, J. T. HADWIN. 

